Steve’s long wait finally paying off
HANDYMAN: Lovell did lowly jobs at Gillingham before excelling as boss FROM bus driver to laundry attendant, Steve Lovell took on every job at Gillingham before he was finally rewarded with the position he had long craved.
The wait has proved worth it for a club heading in the wrong direction before Lovell’s appointment as manager.
Just four months on, a revitalised Gillingham are dreaming of the League One play-offs. It’s no wonder the Gills have moved swiftly to hand the Welshman a new two-year deal.
At 57, Lovell is bucking the trend that young, fashionable coaches are the way forward.
The former Crystal Palace star’s long association with the Kent club has included stints as player, community officer, under-18s coach and first-team assistant. He was twice overlooked for the top job, first as long ago as 1992 while still playing at the Priestfield Stadium, before his wish was finally granted.
“I had got down to the last two applicants when Glenn Roeder was selected ahead of me all those years ago and I’ve been caretaker manager before, but I just never managed to get over the line,” said Lovell. “I did think that was it and that I would never take charge.
“I’ve been involved with this club for a long time and in football in some capacity for most of my life.
“In my various roles here I’ve done everything, from washing the kit, driving the youth team to games and making the teas. You need just someone to show faith in you.”
That man was Gills chairman Paul Scally, who took a punt on Lovell in October.
After a slow start cost Ady Pennock the job and Peter Taylor failed to stop the rot, Lovell was asked to step in after the club had recorded one win from 12 games. Some fans were questioning the club’s direction, but a month later Lovell had won over the doubters and agreed to stay until the end of the season. In January that was upgraded to another two years. “I don’t know if I was initially seen as a safe pair of hands but we won four games out of seven and I made a strong case,” said Lovell, whose side now sit just six points off the top six. “When you get an opportunity to come in you have to grab it. You don’t get too many opportunities in football. “We were second-bottom when I first took over. So to be sitting mid-table now and looking up rather than down is beyond what anyone would have dreamt of. “The players have given me everything and have bought into my ideas. Winning games breeds confidence and we’ve managed to get on a roll.” Gillingham have done exactly that, winning 10 matches and drawing seven during Lovell’s 20-game reign. “I had a different way of doing things on the field that previous managers had and I’m lucky enough that it has worked so far,” he said. “I’m still learning, you never stop, but it’s a ride that I’m thoroughly enjoying. I’m a Gillingham supporter managing Gillingham so I’m loving every minute.” LIFE IN FOOTBALL: Lovell’s career began at Crystal Palace